Karen was my Great Aunt I miss her dearly I was 10 when she passed away and am currently 12 almost 13

I just found out today from an old work friend that Karen had passed away.  I immediately felt a great sadness in my heart.  I worked with Karen at the Minnesota Veterans Home.  If I needed a boost during the day I would walk down the hall to her office area and feel in much better spirits as soon as I saw that beautiful smile.  I hated to see her leave the Vets Home but was honored to write a letter of recommendation for her when she was furthering her education.  I still have the Thank You note and letter she sent me.  My condolences to Steve and the rest of Karen's family.  I will always keep her in my heart.   Karen Lamecker

I have so many great memories of growing up with Karen in Sugar Hills, south of Grand Rapids.  However, in recent years I was able to share prayer requests with Karen of hard things and I know she was bringing them to the Lord on my behalf.  Such a blessing to see her faith shine and grow in the midst of extreme illness.  Her witness will inspire me and spur on my own walk with the Lord until my dying day!  

Kathy asked me to share a few things about Karen. 
I am Karen’s cousin. I grew up many miles from Karens family so we only got to see them once a year at best. I remember Karen always being the quite kind girl that felt other peoples pain and wanted to make sure everything was ok for everyone. When I was about 20 Karen asked me to sing at hers and Steve’s wedding. After that Karen and I would often talk on the phone. We never saw each-other in person but would spend time praying, discussing life and Rock-n-Roll which I was heavily in to (still love it). Looking back and seeing how Karen loved people and showed such great interest in others makes me wonder if she really “loved” rock-n-roll or if she was loving on me by letting me share my passion with her. 
My wife Tara and I moved our family out to Colorado and reconnected with Karen and Steve. When Karen got the news that she had a cancerous tumor she called Tara and myself to let us know. We were one of the many privileged to walk that journey with Karen and Steve. I once again got to see that little girl in Karen. Every time we would meet with her or text she would ask how we were doing and would ALWAYS tell us she was praying for us.  When we attended Karen’s celebration of life service they had a time that anyone could share about Karen. The interesting thing to Tara and myself was that most of the people that shared didn’t know each other. They were people she knew from church, school, people she met walking their dog, neighbors, family, etc. 
I am reminded that this world is not our home and all that really matters is who lives we touch during our short visit while we are passing through.  
We will always love and miss Karen deeply but when this short life is over we get to be with her forever. 
Love you Karen
Tommy Thoen

Every Sunday I went to church with Karen and I never saw her sad or mad. She was always happy. After we would go to McDonald’s and she would always get the parfait and she would also time me on the play structures to see how fast I was. There was one time when she got me spicy sauce and a yogurt and those two together are a bad mix. There were times when we would go and get Steve lunch before he leaves for work. I was always asking to get baptized and then I did, I was baptized by pastor Chris. Karen had the biggest smile. She would always be so kind.

Kaysen Ziegler


As one of the cousins who lived far away from the Grand Rapids group of cousins for most of my life, I was someone who had to make something out of fleeting moments. Despite those momentary reunions, I love my cousin Karen far above the limitations that those infrequent moments might seem to imply.

In my early college years (1980 through early 90s), Karen and her Uncle Renny would sometimes meet up with me when I was a struggling soul of a student at Bethel College (now Bethel University). One of my best memories was that time they both took me out for pizza at Rocky Rococo's, a pizza place in Roseville, Minnesota. Karen always knew how to speak in a way that made me feel like I was the focal point of her concern. I don't know where she picked up that quality, but I remember it as central to her character from the very dawn of my memory of her as one of my elder cousins.

I also recall when Karen, her parents, and three siblings lived in the Twin Cities area. My recollections then were of the three big cousins (Connie, Karen, Kathy) and also Curtis (then in diapers). Curt and I were actually fairly close in age--maybe one or two years apart (?)--so it really made a lot of sense to me that my family would zoom over from Stillwater to see our Cutsforth cousins. And in those days, Sherry and Chris also lived in the Twin Cities, so I cannot forget that moment of cousins living nearby before they all headed north.

More recently--in fact, a few short months ago--it was a real joy for me to see Karen, Kathy, and Aunt Elaine. Karen walked right up to me and gave me a hug that neither time nor geographical distance--not even her own pain--would deny.

Thank you, Karen, for being the loving soul-of-a-cousin that you've always been. Though I do not think I will ever achieve your benchmark of loving others well, I learned a lot from you about how to live in this world.

Sincerest condolences to Steve, Aunt Elaine, Connie, Kathy, and Curtis.

Love,
Kyle

Karen and I went to pharmacy school together at Regis. Regis, being a Jesuit school, we are taught to be "Men and Women for and with others" and Karen embraced that completely. Karen was always a light when you were walking down the hallway or into a classroom. She always had a smile for everyone and took the time to ask them how they were doing. 
When Karen was a student on her clinical rotations she did a rotation at a compounding pharmacy in Estes Park. While she had her white coat to keep from getting powders and creams and other compounded liquids on her, she always wore an apron when she compounded. The staff always fondly remembered her as their "student that wore an apron when she compounded," because they thought it was so cute! 
Sending prayers to Karen's family for strength and healing. Thank you for sharing this wonderful person with the world. 

I knew Karen first as an extremely motivated student and then as a very dear friend.  When Karen was enrolled in my chemistry course at CU Boulder in 2005, I held office hours late on Friday afternoons – reasoning that classes had concluded for the week, and surely students wanted an early start on their homework.  Well, no one came….except Karen!  Karen attended every week, and we had wonderful discussions not only about chemistry but also about life – our beliefs, our values, and our dreams.  Karen became a dear friend who inspired me through her determination, integrity, compassion, and deep faith.  Her story continues to inspire young Pharmacy students at Regis University where a scholarship honors her amazing legacy.

The world was blessed by Karen’s beautiful presence – I will always hold her in my heart.

My love, prayers, and gratitude to Steve, Elaine, and Kathy for welcoming me into their lives, and allowing me to witness their incredible strength, support, and love.

It was a joy for me to have Karen as a part of my close cousin group while growing up at Sugar Hills/Sugar Lake in northern, MN.  We enjoyed many adventures together in the woods, on the lake, at the ski hill, on skates, in youth group/church and with our families and friends.  

Four of us cousins (Karen, Kathy, Rynetta and myself) had a music group as teenagers and would often sing at church, youth and community events.  Being related we blended quite well with Rynetta at the piano too.  

I have so many fun and funny memories;  Such as, my family arriving to Uncle Renny and Auntie Elaine’s house and finding that  Karen had been tied up in a chair downstairs by her sisters and left to figure out how to free herself (we helped her out and her Big sister was the instigator on that situation 😘).   Also; Karen, Kathy, Rynetta and I had a lot of fun racing across the lake in our canoes and going on many adventures together.  Karen was great at skating and twirling on the ice, we had a great time on the frozen ponds and lake.  

I feel so blessed to have had Karen as my cousin and in our family.  We All Are❣️ And, I am looking forward to receiving that big wonderful smile and hug when I see her in Heaven.  PLT 💞

To be a part of the Saturday evening group, Queenagers, at Karen’s house was a blessing and an answer to prayer of many years.  One night as Karen and I were in the kitchen getting plates for dessert, Karen told me she had long been praying for some Christian women friends to share her life with and that God had answered her prayers in us. I told her that I too had been praying that same prayer. We stood in the kitchen hugging and thanking God that he answered us through Queens and cake!

Karen faced things head on and dove deep with the LORD, knowing this, there were times I thought I wouldn’t go because heart wounds were surfacing and I wanted to hide. Then, I thought, what’s for dessert? Or in other words, what blessing will I miss?  Karen poured love into my wounded heart countless times, telling me I am beautiful (smile) with no conditions, just love.  All the while dear Elaine kept the water in the kettle hot and our teacups full.

Linda, Laurel and I are blessed by Karen as she was the magnet that drew us together and Jesus is the glue that holds us together.

Til we meet again dear sister. 👑

What a blessing Karen’s friendship has been in my life!  Over the last couple of years, Karen, Elaine, Lisa, Laurel and I spent Saturday evenings together.   We dubbed ourselves the Amazing Queenagers - we even had crowns.  Week after week, we poured into each others’ lives. While the laughs were plentiful, we learned from one another as sisters in Christ.  We could always count on Karen to provide insight into Scripture in such a gentle and loving manner.  Our evenings often extended until close to midnight.   Throughout our journey with Karen, we always left our time together lifted up, encouraged, and strengthened. 

I am also grateful for the time spent with Karen’s family.  It was amazing to see how connected and supportive they are to one another. I watched love in action.  This remarkable family invited me in and loved me well. Thank you!

Karen was always so giving of her time and made you feel so close no matter the distance. In the summer, I would visit my dad. When I got homesick and couldn’t get ahold of my mom once, the next call was Karen. Knowing she made me feel better, wouldn’t you know she called me every day after that, to just help me feel less homesick!

 I also so appreciate how genuinely she cared for every person she ran into. It didn’t matter your connection, she made you feel like the only person in the whole world! As Steve said, and I’m paraphrasing, “when you have the Lord’s love in you, your love output is unlimited!”

Dr. Veronica Bierbaum, thank you so much for sharing today and the ways that you honored my sister! Karen really looked up to you and had a great respect for who you are, your knowledge, your wisdom and character! 

I can't imagine how heartbroken you are over losing Karen.  She is so special.  God gave her to us  to bring Joy to our lives and she did just that to everyone she met.   She had such a genuine sweet way about her, you didn't have to talk to her long before you felt her genuine caring love for you.   She has left happy memories with everyone that was lucky enough to be part of her life.  As cousins we shared being the "middle" child  in our families and the "respect" for each other that brought. 
She told me in a text not that long ago, how when we were kids, she always wanted to ride next to me in the same car because I was funny and fun to be around - I never knew anyone felt that way about me when I was a kid I always thought Connie was the funny one.  My love to you all - and my prayers to you for comfort during this difficult time.  Thank you Steve, Elaine, & all her family for giving Karen a blessed life and supporting her.  Renny, Grandma, Grandpa ,  Uncle Nelson, Don & Ray are all by her side now with their arms wrapped around her in her new heavenly body.    

Karen was a wonderful neighbor – always welcoming & happy.  “There are some people in life that make you laugh a little louder, smile a little bigger & live just a little bit better” – She was that person!!  She always made me feel like sunshine.
RIP Karen ~


Until we meet again my precious friend…

I have so many good memories of  Karen and the Cutsforth family growing up on Little Sugar and visiting Karen and Steve with Curt as a kid.  She was such a beautiful person inside and out.  My heartfelt condolences go out to the Cutsforth and Pratt families and all of her friends. I know she was welcomed to her eternal home and is sharing that smile with her Lord and the family that preceeded her. 

Karen had a very special place in my heart. When she was young, my daughter tamra wanted Karen to stay with us when her family came in from Minnesota. She was so nice to be around. A joy. I will never forget her kind heart or her smile.

Karen and Steve always blessed me so much when I was regularly traveling to Denver for work several years back - they’d pick me up from my hotel and we’d go out for dinner or catch a Colorado Rockies game.  It really meant a lot to me.  In more recent years Karen and I would text to catch up every so often, even as her health declined she wanted to focus on how my family was doing and would send things she’d seen (new treatment options for health situations Deb and Sami has been dealing with).  So giving, caring, sweet and completely interested in others - so much like her Dad in that way.  

Karen, I know you are enjoying a sweet reunion with him and the others who have gone before.  

Steve, my deepest and condolences and prayers for you at this time - you picked a real gem of a woman. 

Karen was a kind soul and a dear friend. She was not only the nicest person I met in pharmacy school, she was probably the nicest person I ever met in my entire LIFE. She also had the BEST laugh, like an adorable kid giggle! I will miss her very much. 

OBITUARY

Karen Marie Pratt

January 14, 1964 – October 14, 2021

Howe Mortuary & Crematory

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